Have you ever questioned the purpose of your actions and contemplated the direction of your life? Perhaps you feel stuck in your job, repeatedly overlooked for a promotion, or your daily routine is centered around cleaning up after your children and household chores, which seem to lack variety.

Following a dull routine, you may start feeling uninterested and sluggish in life. You may start questioning the purpose of your actions, and wonder if there is something more to life than what you are experiencing. And indeed, there is! In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read about Solomon’s quest to find meaning and purpose in life. He tries to find it through wealth, possessions, relationships, and pleasures – exploring all possibilities. However, regardless of his efforts, he is unable to discover the true essence of life through these possessions or activities. In fact, at one point in his search, he said, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Eccl. 1:14). Later he states, “When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Eccl. 2:11; 2:17, 21; 3:19).

In the conclusion of his quest, he makes a compelling and definitive statement, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). Solomon’s message is clear: after a lengthy and thorough exploration, he has arrived at the realization that true meaning and purpose in life can only be attained by embracing the goodness of God and His desire for our well-being. By acknowledging His power and holiness, and giving Him the reverence and obedience; we can find fulfillment in our primary pursuit – the very reason for our existence.

The truth of this declaration remains relevant today, just as it did for Solomon. Our sole purpose in life is to pursue a righteous existence that brings honor and glory to God through our words and actions (Isa. 43:7; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). It is futile to search for true purpose and meaning in life through material possessions, social status, relationships, or self-indulgent pleasures. The attainment of a sense of significance can only be accomplished by fulfilling our primary objective, which is to cultivate a close and personal relationship with God and adhere to His teachings through obedient living.

King David wrote in Psalm 112:1 that the man who fears the Lord and delights in His commands is blessed of God. Stated differently, joy comes when we engage in the activities that align with God’s purpose for our life. God commands each of us to “fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees…for your own good” (Deut. 10:12-13;1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 21:3; Mark 12:29-31). The message is unmistakable: a life devoted to honoring God and seeking His approval will reflect godliness. By walking in a meek and obedient manner that exalts the name of our Heavenly Father, Redeemer, and Companion – as intended by our very creation – we are fulfilling our purpose and experiencing lasting contentment and significance in life!

The Pursuit of Godliness Begins with a Decision

The critical inquiry we must confront is this: Are we genuinely committed to living a life that consistently brings honor to God? Deep within our heart, do we possess a sincere want, desire, or aspiration to embody godliness? For the sake of discussion, let us assume that our response is: A resounding yes, and that we aspire to reflect God in every aspect of our daily life, which is our thoughts, actions, words, and emotions. In that case, the follow-up question for us is this: What concrete steps are we taking at this moment to accomplish that objective? Do we have a well-thought-out strategy in place to pursue that goal? Remember, there is no better moment than now to begin this spiritual pursuit

Mere desire alone is insufficient to bring about a desired outcome. For instance, I may desire to shed 20 pounds of weight, but unless I make alterations to my daily routine and consistently adhere to a specific diet and exercise regimen, losing weight will remain an unattainable goal. In fact, if I am not careful, I may even end up gaining weight. Similarly, I may aspire to become a godly individual, but unless I am willing to implement some spiritual lifestyle changes and adhere to a structured spiritual “diet and exercise program,” my aspirations will remain unfulfilled. Achieving godliness requires developing a strategy and taking the proper action steps to put it into practice. So, once more, I pose the question: What steps are you presently taking to pursue godliness?

It’s important to realize that becoming a godly person is not a given for Christians. Just because we are saved doesn’t mean we automatically become godly. In fact, striving towards godliness can be quite challenging. If we take a close look at our spiritual journey so far, we should ask ourselves if we have tried to be godly but failed in our attempts. Why is it that we often struggle to succeed despite our genuine desires and sincere efforts to do what’s right and bring glory to God in our daily lives?

God Has Already Supplied Everything We Need

2 Peter 1:3 says, “(God’s) divine power has given us everything we need for a

godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” Did you catch that? God provides everything we need to live a godly life through our knowledge of Him.

This verse contains important truths that are essential for us to live a life that honors God. Peter emphasizes that it is God’s divine power that supplies us with everything we require to live a godly life. By using the term “divine,” Peter indicates that this power belongs to God alone, and only He has the ability to provide all that we need to live a godly life. This power is not naturally present within us, and we cannot achieve godliness on our own. Instead, it is God’s divine power that equips us to lead a godly life. Divine power refers to the fact that only God has the distinctive capability to equip us with everything we need to live a godly life.

It is important to contemplate this fact. Neither you nor I have the ability to produce godliness independently. Job asks the question, “Who can bring what is pure from the impure?” He then answers, “No one” (Job 14:4). In and of ourselves, we are incapable of being godly. In fact, God says, “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Ps. 14:3; Ps. 53:3; Rom. 3:10-12). “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isa. 64:6; Isa. 53:6). Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”

Our natural ability falls short in achieving godliness, but if we invite God into our hearts, His inherent power can transform us and enable us to lead a life that honors Him. This happens when His Spirit resides within us, and we learn to submit to His authority. Peter affirms that God’s divine power equips believers with all they require to lead a godly life.

Peter’s use of the phrase “has given” is crucial. The way this is written describes an action that has been completed in the past and does not require repetition. By wording this in such a way, Peter emphasizes that God’s divine power has already provided everything we need, and we do not need to request it again. As believers, we possess everything necessary to lead a godly life because God’s divine power has already been given to us, and we do not need to ask for it. Peter affirms that God’s divine power has given us everything we need, and this applies to anyone who identifies as a follower of Jesus Christ. As believers, we are the recipients of everything necessary to live a godly life.

Consider this: God’s divine power has provided us with everything we need. The term “everything” is synonymous with “all,” which means the entirety of something, without exception. I recall a preacher once saying, “All means all, and that’s all all means!” God’s divine power has given us everything necessary to lead a godly life, and that’s remarkable! We cannot create it independently, but there is no need to because we already possess it. Every single aspect of it! We don’t have to search for it elsewhere since God has already given it to us in its entirety.

So where is this power to live a godly life? The answer is found within the verse. Peter says we can find everything we need for godliness “through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3). Did you catch that? It is through our knowledge of God that we are enabled to be godly. The term “through” implies that something will be accomplished by using it as a means or instrument. To put it differently, as we increase our knowledge of God, we are equipped with everything required to lead a genuine and sincere life through our knowledge of God.

Knowing About God Versus Truly Knowing God

It’s crucial for us to take a moment and ensure that we comprehend the type of “knowledge” Peter is referring to. He’s not merely talking about factual knowledge; knowing God goes beyond that. If our knowledge of God is purely intellectual, we won’t acquire the necessary tools to lead a righteous life. We’ll only have gained information.

Although possessing knowledge about godliness can instruct us on what we ought to do to lead a godly life, it cannot provide us with the motivation and inspiration needed to maintain the daily discipline required to achieve this. Without a genuine desire to pursue godliness, our “godly” actions will be meaningless, merely fulfilling our duty as a Christian. This approach will reduce our life to a series of tasks rather than a relationship, transforming our faith into a burden instead of a blessing.

There are individuals who perceive godliness as a matter of acquiring accurate Biblical knowledge. Their conviction is that if they read extensively, attend multiple Christian seminars, study the Bible diligently, and accumulate sufficient information, godliness will inevitably follow. While each of these activities has its merits, it’s crucial to emphasize that none of them alone can guarantee godliness. Christian literature by renowned authors and seminars on cultivating a relationship with God are undoubtedly valuable, and studying the Bible is always beneficial. Pursuing knowledge of the Bible and Christian living is a wise choice in any circumstance.

Peter says that “grace and peace (is ours) in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). We are commanded to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). However, we must realize that there are also those who “are always learning but never able to come to acknowledge the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). The fact is, studying the Bible and accumulating knowledge all by itself can lead to spiritual dryness. Merely possessing knowledge without enacting any change in our life in response to God’s truth can impede our growth instead of fostering it. Relying too heavily on knowledge achievement may lead to neglecting the practical application of what we’ve already learned. Be cautious of this tendency and ensure that we’re not overlooking the importance of applying what we know to our life. James warns: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!” (Jas. 1:22).

Living a life that genuinely honors God, which is godliness, encompasses more than merely amassing knowledge, regardless of its biblical nature. Jesus said, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40). At first glance, it may seem as though Jesus is praising these individuals for being diligent in studying the Scriptures. However, upon closer evaluation, it becomes apparent that Jesus is criticizing them. While they were undoubtedly determined to learn and understand the Scriptures, their motivation was misguided. Their focus was on acquiring knowledge of the Word of God for its own sake. They aspired to impress others with their vast biblical knowledge and education. They placed such tremendous importance on their head knowledge that they failed to recognize the presence of the Son of God who stood among them. Jesus says, “These are the Scriptures that testify about me!”

Although they possessed intellectual knowledge of God’s Word, they lacked a genuine relationship with the Almighty God. Simply having a mental grasp of the Scriptures is insufficient to achieve godliness. Even if we have an extensive knowledge of Biblical truths and principles, have memorized many passages, and comprehend Bible doctrine, unless you integrate those truths into your daily life and live by the doctrine you know to be true, you are not truly glorifying God. In other words, we cannot be considered a godly person unless we are actively living out the principles we’ve learned. Peter says that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3). The crucial factor in achieving godliness is grasping the meaning of “knowledge” as referred to by Peter, given that our ability to glorify God is contingent on His assistance and that godliness can only be attained through knowledge of Him.

As a result of this type of knowledge, our thought process undergoes a transformation. Our understanding and comprehension of God become so clear that it affects the way we think. Consequently, our behavior changes in response to our altered thought patterns. God has provided us with all the necessary means to live a life that honors Him, but it is only attainable as we gain a profound understanding of Him. As this happens, our perspective on God shifts, which leads to changes in our actions. Our behavior is now governed by the truth we have learned about God, resulting in a life of godliness.

To possess the type of knowledge mentioned by Peter in this verse, one needs to have a close and personal encounter with what is being known. It is not superficial knowledge, nor is it solely based on intellectual facts. This type of knowledge delves much deeper. For example, I will never be able to say, “I know Abraham Lincoln.” While I may possess a wealth of information about Abraham Lincoln, I cannot claim to know him personally. At best, I have a superficial understanding of his life and achievements. In order to truly know him, I would have needed to live alongside him, observing and conversing with him every day. Only through such an intimate experience could I gain a precise and comprehensive knowledge of the man. On the flipside of that coin, I have a deep and intimate knowledge of my wife, Denise, with whom I have shared over 20 years of life. Having observed her passions, interests, and motivations firsthand, I can confidently say that I truly know her, and this knowledge has a significant impact on my life.

The understanding I have gained about Denise has transformed my perspective of her, resulting in a shift in my reactions towards her. My love for her has deepened, and I strive to bring her joy and satisfaction. Through my knowledge of her accumulated over the years, I have learned how to live my life in a manner that sparks her interest, ignites her passions, alleviates her worries, and motivates her towards a more intimate relationship with God.

Peter is suggesting that obtaining a profound and intimate comprehension of God is the means by which we acquire all the necessary resources to lead a godly life. Yet in Job 36:26, we read these words: “How great is God — beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out.” The Bible affirms that God is beyond our human capacity to fully comprehend and become thoroughly acquainted with. Furthermore, in Job’s statement that God is beyond our understanding, implies something that is incomplete and can never be fully accomplished. Hence, without God’s divine intervention, which He offers through His Spirit, human knowledge of God will always be incomplete and therefore imperfect.

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens — what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave — what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea” (Job 11:7-9). Job 37:23 says, “The Almighty is beyond our reach.” Paul says that God is “…the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Tim. 6:15-16). In essence, knowing God by our own efforts is an impossible task. As Romans 3:11 states, no one seeks God on their own accord. Additionally, since humans are inherently sinful, it is crucial that God initiates the process of being intimately known by us.

We can positively conclude that He did that, otherwise Peter would be lying as he says, “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him” (2 Pet. 1:3). Through the Bible, God has provided us with a glimpse of Himself. Therefore, we have the ability to intimately understand and know our Creator and Father because of His Spirit that instructs us as we read the Scriptures. The Bible is the very Word of God! Paul writes that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). It came from the very mouth of the Almighty God Himself. And Peter tells us that “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). It is vital for us to acknowledge that the Bible is God’s Word and His revelation of Himself to humanity. In order to know God through His Word, we must regularly engage with it since that is where we can learn about who He is and find all the necessary guidance to live a godly life.

If we truly desire to live a life that honors and pleases God, which involves a profound and intimate comprehension of Him, then it’s necessary to get our hands dirty, to pick up our tools and start excavating the depths of God’s Word. That is where we are going to find our answers (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12). To construct a life that is pleasing to God, we must establish it on the firm and unshakeable base of the Bible.

2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” The ability to live a life that truly honors and glorifies God is a gift that only He can give to us. Fortunately, God has already equipped us with everything we need to live such a life, and all of it can be found within His Word. As we dive into the Scriptures, study and reflect on them, we will discover all the resources we need. As our relationship with God grows stronger, and we deepen our understanding of Him, the Holy Spirit will help us learn how to live a life that truly glorifies Him.

Conclusion: God has given you all that you need to live a godly life, including a new mind, nature, and heart. It’s impossible to live a Christian life on our own, so instead of trying to do so, we must yield to the Holy Spirit and rely on Him to guide us through the Word of God. By doing so, we can become godly individuals who truly glorify God in our daily lives. Therefore, it’s crucial to be in the Word of God if we want to live a life that honors Him.